The thrill of victory: blood-pressure variability and the type A behavior pattern

Winning and losing were predicted to be more significant in determining cardiovascular responses for Type A's than for Type B's. Twenty-four healthy, preclinical medical students (12 Type A and 12 Type B) were randomly assigned to be winners or losers at a competitive reaction-time task. Type A winners were different from all other subjects in maintaining initially high systolic blood-pressure levels. Rather than showing a pattern consistent with unusual stress, the Type A losers appeared to slow down in their reaction time and lose interest in the competition. It is suggested that the continued stimulation that Type A's get from successfully competing for rewards may be more important in cardiovascular terms than the stress of losing--at least for males. It is also suggested that activation of the Type A behavior pattern may be more elective than it is usually considered to be.